New England Age Group Committee Recommendations:

12 and Under Championship Meet Guidelines

 

Submitted to the New England Technical Committee on 8/28/05

 

In an effort to make the New England 12 and Under Championship Meet a fun and exciting experience for our developing athletes, the New England Age Group Committee makes the following recommendations for championship meet procedures:

 

  1. For finals, all 11-12 finalists shall be paraded to the blocks with music and names announced in championship order before swimming.  All consolation finalists shall have their names announced while swimming.

 

  1. A public address system may be utilized during prelims and finals to:

 

    1. Announce swimmers in the water.
    2. Announce impending record setting swims.
    3. Announce close final races.
    4. Announce team scores at least twice per session.
    5. Announce Zone qualifiers (at the long course meet only).
    6. Promote a fun, festive and exciting atmosphere of racing.

 

  1. The team scores shall be posted near the race results at the end of each finals session.

 

  1. Zone cut times, Open cut times, New England Records and New England Resident Records shall be printed on the meet programs and meet heat sheets.

 

  1. Every effort shall be made to run time trials for swimmers close to qualifying for Zones, Open Championships, YMCA Nationals and any other meet of consideration.

 

  1. Once the entries and session timelines are completed, all teams shall be notified of relay warm-up and event start times; distance race warm-up times and event start times and time trial dates and times.  The notice can read:  “The 11-12 400 Free Relay warm-up time will be at approximately 5:00 p.m. and the relays will begin NO EARLIER than 5:15 p.m.”

 

  1. Light meals, snack food, water, coffee and soda will be provided at all sessions for officials and coaches.  New officials with younger swimmers must be encouraged and supported in their volunteer efforts.  Off-deck hospitality must be provided if on-deck hospitality is not allowed at a particular racing venue.

 

  1. Timers should be assigned for the entire meet, except for the distance events (1500 Free, 800 Free, 400 Free and 400 I.M.) and the Relay events.

 

  1. Coaches must be responsible to clean their team area before picking up any awards and leaving the venue for the day. 

 

  1. SAFETY CONCERN: Are relay starts allowed during warm-up sessions?

 

 

 

All recommendations will be followed at the discretion of the meet director, meet referee and pool facilities personnel.